The 2012 Ironman 70.3 World Championship was a triathlon competition held at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada on September 9, 2012.
Professional athletes were also eligible for prize purses at each qualifying event, which ranged in total size from $15,000 to $75,000.
[4] Some 70.3 events also serve as qualifiers for the full Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
[66] He made his return to long distance triathlon in the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Panama race, on February 12, 2012.
However, on June 13, 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping and trafficking of drugs, based on blood samples from 2009 and 2010.
[67] Armstrong was initially suspended and eventually banned from participating in sports sanctioned by WADA.
[68] Because of the suspension and subsequent ban, Armstrong was prohibited from racing Ironman branded events to due World Triathlon Corporation anti-doping policies.